soon

adverb

ˈsün How to pronounce soon (audio)
especially New England ˈsu̇n
sooner; soonest
Synonyms of soonnext
1
: without undue time lapse : before long
soon after sunrise
2
: in a prompt manner : speedily
as soon as possible
the sooner the better
no sooner said than done
3
: in agreement with one's choice or preference : willingly
I'd just as soon walk as drive
4
archaic : before the usual time
5
obsolete : at once : immediately
Usage of Safe

Both "drive safe" and "drive safely" are acceptable. Flat adverbs, as adverbs without -ly are called, are common in English; examples include soon in "see you soon" and fast in "time goes so fast." Adverbial safe functions in the same way these do.

Examples of soon in a Sentence

We will soon be making changes. The soonest I can get there is tomorrow. When is the soonest possible date of delivery? The audience soon realized that it wasn't a stunt. She found a job soon after graduation. How soon can you finish the job? The sooner you finish your homework, the sooner you can go outside and play. I will let you know as soon as possible. I'll get there as soon as I can.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The deeper the water, the sooner a vehicle loses traction on the road. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 22 Dec. 2025 But soon Lexington flourished, with suburbs sprouting among bur oak and American elm trees. Jesse Bedayn, Fortune, 22 Dec. 2025 She’s associated with The Orphanage, can fight, and is soon in the middle of the agency’s mission to identify and stop the hacker. Sofía Tafich, Vogue, 22 Dec. 2025 The deputy soon discovered this was not the graveyard shift of a farmworker, but a would-be robber trying to make off with about 400 pounds of avocados, authorities say. Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 22 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for soon

Word History

Etymology

Middle English soone, from Old English sōna; akin to Old High German sān immediately

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Time Traveler
The first known use of soon was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Soon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soon. Accessed 28 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

soon

adverb
ˈsün How to pronounce soon (audio)
especially New England ˈsu̇n
1
: before long : without delay
soon after sunrise
2
: in a speedy way
as soon as possible
3
archaic : before the usual time
4
: by choice
would as soon do it now

More from Merriam-Webster on soon

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